Act 5, Scene 1

[Dunsinane. Ante-room in the castle. Enter a Doctor and a Gentlewoman who waits on the queen.]

Doctor

I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive

no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?

Gentlewoman

Performance

Doctor and Gentlewoman, Lines 1-27

Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen

her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon

her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it,

Doctor

I’ve stayed up observing her with you for two nights, but I still haven’t seen anything to make me believe your report. When was the last time she was sleepwalking?

Gentlewoman

Ever since the king went off to battle, I’ve seen her get up, throw on her nightgown, unlock her cabinet, pull out some paper, fold it, write on it, read it, seal it closed, and then go back to bed. And all this while fast asleep!

Doctor

How unnatural, to get the benefit of sleeping, but perform actions as if she were awake! In this agitated sleep state, besides her walking around and doing things, what have you heard her say?

write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it, and again

return to bed — yet all this while in a most fast sleep.

Doctor

A great perturbation in nature — to receive at once

the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of watching.

Word Nerd

"watching"

[Click to launch video.]

In this slumbery agitation, besides her walking and

other actual performances, what, at any time,

have you heard her say?

Gentlewoman

That, sir, which I will not report after her.

Doctor

You may to me, and 'tis most meet you should.

Gentlewoman

Neither to you nor any one, having no witness to

confirm my speech.

[Enter Lady Macbeth, with a candle]

Lo you, here she comes. This is her very guise,

Gentlewoman

Things, sir, that I won’t repeat.

Doctor

You can repeat them to me, and it’s appropriate that you do so.

Gentlewoman

I won’t repeat them to you or anyone, since I don’t have a witness to back me up.

[Enter Lady Macbeth, with a candle]

Look, here she comes! This is how she usually acts. And I swear on my life, she’s fast asleep. Watch her, keep out of sight.

Doctor

How did she get that light?

Gentlewoman

It was next to her. She has a light next to her at all times, by her orders.

Doctor

You see, her eyes are open.

and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.

Doctor

How came she by that light?

Gentlewoman

Why, it stood by her. She has light by her

continually; 'tis her command.

Doctor

You see, her eyes are open.

Gentlewoman

Ay, but their sense is shut.

Doctor

What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands.

Gentlewoman

It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus

washing her hands. I have known her continue in

Gentlewoman

Yes, but they don’t see anything.

Doctor

What’s she doing now? Look how she’s rubbing her hands together.

Gentlewoman

That’s a habit of hers, acting like she’s washing her hands. I’ve seen her do it for fifteen minutes at a time.

Lady Macbeth

There’s still a spot here.

Doctor

Listen, she’s talking. I’ll write down what she says, so that I can remember it better.

this a quarter of an hour.

Lady Macbeth

Performance

Lady Macbeth, Lines 28-36

Yet here's a spot.

Doctor

Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes from

her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.

Lady Macbeth

Out, damned spot, out, I say. — One, two — why,

then, 'tis time to do't. — Hell is murky. — Fie, my

lord, fie, a soldier, and afeard! What need we

fear who knows it, when none can call our power to

account? Yet who would have thought the old man

to have had so much blood in him?

Doctor

Lady Macbeth

Come out, damned spot! Come out, I say! — One, two, [as if counting the clock bells] – well then, it’s time to do it. — Hell is so dark! — Shame on you, my lord, for shame! You’re a soldier, and you’re afraid? What do we need to be afraid of when no one dare accuse us? — But who would have thought the old man could have so much blood in him.

Doctor

Did you hear that?

Lady Macbeth

The Lord of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? — What, will these hands never be clean? — No more of that, my husband, stop that. You’ll ruin everything by being so jittery.

Doctor

You should leave; you know things you shouldn’t.

Do you mark that?

Lady Macbeth

The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now?

What, will these hands ne'er be clean? — No more o'

Performance

Lady Macbeth, Lines 38-41

that, my lord, no more o' that; you mar all with

this starting.

Doctor

Performance

Doctor and Gentlewoman, Lines 42-44

Go to, go to. You have known what you should not.

Gentlewoman

She has spoke what she should not. I am sure of

that. Heaven knows what she has known.

Lady Macbeth

Here's the smell of the blood still. All the

perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little

Word Nerd

"perfumes"

[Click to launch video.]

Performance

Lady Macbeth, Lines 45-47

hand. Oh, oh, oh.

Doctor

Gentlewoman

She’s said things she shouldn’t have, I’m sure of that. Heaven knows what she has done.

Lady Macbeth

The smell of the blood’s still here. All the perfumes in Arabia could not make my hands smell sweet. Oh, oh, oh!

Doctor

What a sigh! Her heart is seriously troubled.

Gentlewoman

I wouldn’t want to have a heart like that, even if it meant I could be a queen.

Doctor

Well, well, well.

Gentlewoman

Pray God all will be well, sir.

What a sigh is there. The heart is sorely charged.

Word Nerd

"charged"

[Click to launch video.]

Gentlewoman

Performance

Doctor and Gentlewoman, Lines 48-55

I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the

dignity of the whole body.

Doctor

Well, well, well.

Gentlewoman

Pray God it be, sir.

Doctor

This disease is beyond my practice; yet I have known

those which have walked in their sleep, who have died

holily in their beds.

Lady Macbeth

Performance

Lady Macbeth, Lines 56-58

Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so

pale. — I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he

Doctor

This illness is beyond anything I can treat. Still, I have known people who sleepwalked who have still died a natural death, pardoned of all their sins.

Lady Macbeth

Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; don’t look so pale. ... I tell you again, Banquo's buried. He can’t come out of his grave.

Doctor

Gentlewoman

Performance

Doctor

Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds

Do breed unnatural troubles; infected minds,

To their deaf pillows, will discharge their secrets.

Doctor

Will she go to bed now?

Gentlewoman

Right away.

Doctor

There are nasty rumors going around that sinful acts have caused the perpetrator to go crazy and reveal her secrets in her sleep. She needs help from heaven, not from a doctor. God, God forgive us all! Look after her. Take away anything she could use to hurt herself, and keep your eyes on her. Well, good night. She’s baffled my mind and amazed my eyes. I know what she said, but I dare not say anything.